Chapter Social and economic mobility in preindustrial Europe

This article surveys and discusses the available literature on socio-economic mobility in preindustrial societies. Beginning with the mobility-promoting impact of the Black Death, the article explores more generally how “calamities” of various kinds offered (or not) opportunities for upward mobility...

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Main Author: Alfani, Guido
Format: Online
Language:English
Published: Firenze University Press 2025
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Online Access:ONIX_20250801T173835_9791221506679_76
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author Alfani, Guido
author_browse Alfani, Guido
author_facet Alfani, Guido
author_sort Alfani, Guido
collection Directory of Open Access Books
description This article surveys and discusses the available literature on socio-economic mobility in preindustrial societies. Beginning with the mobility-promoting impact of the Black Death, the article explores more generally how “calamities” of various kinds offered (or not) opportunities for upward mobility. Thereafter, it discusses long-term mobility trends, also in the light of new research about economic inequality. Finally, the article discusses how, in certain historical phases, ruling elites acted as the “enemies” of mobility, defending their positions – but possibly contributing to entrench economic stagnation.
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spelling doab-20.500.12854ir-1635182025-08-02T05:13:26Z Chapter Social and economic mobility in preindustrial Europe Alfani, Guido social mobility socio-economic mobility economic inequality wealth poverty preindustrial Europe This article surveys and discusses the available literature on socio-economic mobility in preindustrial societies. Beginning with the mobility-promoting impact of the Black Death, the article explores more generally how “calamities” of various kinds offered (or not) opportunities for upward mobility. Thereafter, it discusses long-term mobility trends, also in the light of new research about economic inequality. Finally, the article discusses how, in certain historical phases, ruling elites acted as the “enemies” of mobility, defending their positions – but possibly contributing to entrench economic stagnation. 2025-08-02T05:13:25Z 2025-08-02T05:13:25Z 2025-08-01T15:45:31Z 2025 chapter ONIX_20250801T173835_9791221506679_76 2975-1195 https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/104626 9791221506679 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/163518 eng Datini Studies in Economic History open access image/jpeg Attribution 4.0 International https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/104626/1/44492.pdf Firenze University Press 10.36253/979-12-215-0667-9.02 10.36253/979-12-215-0667-9.02 2ec4474d-93b1-4cfa-b313-9c6019b51b1a 9791221506679 20 Florence open access
spellingShingle social mobility
socio-economic mobility
economic inequality
wealth
poverty
preindustrial Europe
Alfani, Guido
Chapter Social and economic mobility in preindustrial Europe
title Chapter Social and economic mobility in preindustrial Europe
title_full Chapter Social and economic mobility in preindustrial Europe
title_fullStr Chapter Social and economic mobility in preindustrial Europe
title_full_unstemmed Chapter Social and economic mobility in preindustrial Europe
title_short Chapter Social and economic mobility in preindustrial Europe
title_sort chapter social and economic mobility in preindustrial europe
topic social mobility
socio-economic mobility
economic inequality
wealth
poverty
preindustrial Europe
topic_facet social mobility
socio-economic mobility
economic inequality
wealth
poverty
preindustrial Europe
url ONIX_20250801T173835_9791221506679_76
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